Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/constitutionbylaOOeliw 



CONSTITUTION 

AND 

BY-LAWS 



OF THE | §!^ 



ELI WHITNEY 
COUNTRY CLUB, 

AUGUSTA, GA. 



Chronicle Job Print, Augusta, Ga. 



While several machines had been in= 
vented for the seeding of cotton, it was 
reserved for Eli Whitney to inaugurate 
by his own invention the era w^hich was 
to perfect the industry of "cotton ginning" 
and revolutionize the culture and com= 
merce of the staple. 




^^ ^ 









^" t!:# ^ 






L ^ 







OFFICERS OF THE CLUB. 
1902. 

President. 

James F. McGowan. 

(Inman & Co., Cotton Brokers.) 
Vice-President. 

Joshua J. Doughty. 

(J. J. Doughtj- & Co., Cotton Brokers.) 
Secretary and Treasurer. 

T, C. Crawford, 



Board of Directors. 

Thomas Barrett, Jr., 

(President Langley Mfg. Co.) 

J. W. Chafke, 

. (President Sibley Mfg. Co.) 

Cecil Cochrane, 

(0. Cochrane & Co., Cotton Brokers.) 

Wm. T. Gary, 

(Attorney at Law.) 

J. F. Hanson, 

(President Bibb Mfg. Co.) 

T. I. Hickman, 

(President Graniteville Mfg. Co.) 

James U. Jackson, 

((ipn. Agent Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co.) 

Jacob Phinizy, 

(Mayor of Augusta.) 

Stewart Phinizy, 

(President Augusta Factory.) 

T. K. Scott, 

(Gen. Mgr. Georgia Railroad.) 

Landon Thomas, 

(President King Mfg. Co.) 

James P. Verdery, 

(President Enterprise Mfg. Co.) 



Board of Governors. 

Thomas Barrett, Jr., 

(President Langley Mfg. Co. 

Cecil Cochrane, 

(C. Cochrane & Co., Cotton Brokers.) 

Wm. T. Gary, 

(Attorney at Law.) 

James U. Jackson, 

(General Agent Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co.) 

James F. McGowan, 

(Inman & Co., Cotton Brokers.) 



Charter of the Club. 



To the Superior Court of Said County: 

The petition of James F. McGowan, Thomas Bar- 
rett, Junior, Thomas W. Alexander, William T. Gary, 
and Joshua J. Doughty, respectfully shows: 

First. That they desire for themselves, their asso- 
ciates, successors and assigns, to be incorporated un- 
der the name and style of Bli \VhiTne:y Cou:ntry 
CivUB, for the period of twenty years, with the privi- 
lege of renewal of their charter for a like period at the 
expiration of that time. 

Second. That the capital stock of said corporation 
is ten thousand dollars, divided into shares of one 
hundred dollars each, and your petitioners pray for 
authority, by a majority vote of the subscribers to the 
capital stock, from time to time to reduce the capi- 
tal stock to an amount not less than five thousand 
dollars, and by a majority vote of the stockholders 
from time to time to increase the capital stock to any 
amount not exceeding fift}^ thousand dollars. 

Third. That no part of the capital stock has yet 
been actually paid. 

Fourth. That the object of said corporation is 
pecuniary profit and gain to its stockholders. 



Fifth. That the particular business which they 
propose to carry on is to buy and sell lands or any 
easement, right, privilege or interest therein, situated 
in Georgia or elsewhere, and to rent or lease or sub- 
let the vsame; to establish, keep and enjoy one or more 
preserves for hunting or fishing, and to erect such 
buildings and make such improvements, and supply 
such articles and things as they may deem suitable or 
necessary for the purposes aforesaid, with the privi- 
lege of using, renting, or leasing the same or any part 
thereof; to build ponds, erect dams and buildings, and 
to purchase all the necessary or suitable machinery to 
provide water, steam, electric or other power, and to 
use, rent or lease the same for manufacturing any ar- 
ticles from wood, cotton, wool or other things suita- 
ble for the purpose; to gin and pack cotton, to grind 
grain, to saw lumber, shingles, etc.; to light building 
with electric lights, to erect such appliances as may 
be suitable for the purpose, and to charge and collect 
a reasonable sum as compensation, with the privilege 
of using, operating, selling, renting or leasing the 
same or any part thereof to be used by others for a 
like purpose, and to supply such help as may by them 
be deemed necessary for the purposes of said corpor- 
.^tion. 

-Sixth. That in addition to the general powers 
wnich are conferred by law, your petitioners pray that 
authority be granted to said corporation to regulate 
and control the rights and privileges of its members 
as stockholders to use and enjoy its property, and to 
dispose of or sell such shares of its capital stock as 
may, by them, be respectively owned, by such by- 
laws, as may from time to time be adopted by a ma- 
jority of the stockholders of said corporation. 

26 



Sevsj^Th. That stockholders of said corporation, 
as such, shall be individually liable only to the extent 
of their unpaid subscriptions to its capital stock. 

Eighth. That said corporation shall have the 
right to contract and be contracted with, to make 
loans and to borrow money for corporate purposes, to 
issue bonds to an amount not exceeding its capital 
stock, and to secure the payment of any of its indebt- 
edness by deed or mortgage of the whole or any part 
of its corporate property. 

Ninth. That the principal of lice and place of bus- 
iness of the proposed corporation will be in the County 
of Richmond, and State of Georgia. 

WTierefore, petitioners pray to be made a body cor- 
porate under the corporate name of Eli Whitney 
Country Club, with all the rigbts and privileges 
enumerated in the foregoing petition and all others 
fixed by law. 

x'\nd your petitioners will ever pray, etc. 

Wm. T. Gary, 
Attorney for Petitioners, 



27 



mhinnnd fflranta } ^" ^te S«p.n0r tort. 

/;? M<? Matter of 

James F. McGowan, Thomas Barrett, Jr A Application 
Thomas W. Alexafider, William TA^^T Charter 
Gary, and Joshua J. Doughty, Peti- 1 ' Country 
tioners. ) C^ub. 

Personally appeared before me H. C. Smith, 
who being duly sworn says: That he is secretary 
of the Augusta Chronicle Company; that the petition 
or declaration for the Charter of Bli Whitney Country 
Club above referred to was published once a week for 
four weeks in the Augusta Chronicle, the nearest pub- 
lic gazette to the point where said business is located; 
that said publication first appeared on the 25th day of 
February, A. D. 1901, and a copy is hereto attached as 
a part hereof. 

H. C. Smith, 
Secretary Augusta Chronicle Co. 
Subscribed and Sworn to before me 
this March 30th, 1901. 

Chas. F. AGrei*i<E, 

Notary Public R. C. Ga. 



28 



miimmxri touts. P" *'^' *"P^""' ®°"'^*' 

At a Special Term Richmond Superior Court. 
In the Matter of 

Tames F. McGowan, Thos. BzrrettJr.,^ Application 

Thomas IV. Alexander, William T I |'?J wh^Iy 

Gar)/ and Joshua J. Doughty, Peti- \ Country 

tiojiers. J Club. 

Upon hearing the petition in the above stated 
matter, and the Court being satisfied that all of the 
requirements of the law in such cases made and pro- 
vided have been complied with, and the Court being 
further satisfied that said application is legitimately 
within the purview and intention of the Code, the 
same is hereby granted, and the above named per- 
sons, their associates and successors are hereby incor- 
porated under the said name and style of "Eivi 
Whitney Country Club," for and during a period 
of twenty years, with the privilege of renewal at the 
expiration of that time. 

And said corporation is hereby clothed with all the 
rights and powers, privileges and immunities prayed 
for in said petition and all others fixed by law. 

This March 30th, 1901. 

E. Iv. Brinson, 

J. S. C. A. C. 

29 



Charter oj Eli Whitney Country Club, \ 

In Re. \ 

Eli Whitney Country Club, Charter, j 

Under and by virtue of the authority vested in 
me by Section 2349 of the Code of Georgia it is order- 
ed that a special term of the Superior Court of the 
County of Richmond be held this 30th day of March, 
A. D. 1901, for the purpose of granting charters to 
corporations. 

Given under my hand and official signature this 
30th day of March, A. D. 1901. 

E. L. Brinson, 

J. S. C. A. C. 



30 



^ Law of the State of Georgia in Regard 
to incorporations. 

p350, (3), Code of 1895. 

No corporation created under this section shall 
commence to exercise the privileges conferred by the 
charter, until ten per cent, of the capital stock is paid 
in; and no charter shall have any force or effect for a 
longer period than two years, unless the corporators, 
within that time, shall in good faith commence to ex- 
ercise the powers granted by the act of incorporation ; 
and, in case of failure of said corporation, the stock- 
holders shall be bound, in their private capacity, to 
any creditor of said corporation for the amount of 
stock subscribed for by them, until the said subscrip- 
tion is fully paid up, or until the stockholder shall 
have paid, out of his private property, debts of the 
said corporation to an amount equal to his unpaid 
subscription. 

"Only local members will be called upon to contri 
bute to the current expenses of the Club, non-resi- 
dents being absolved from all liability therefor." 

Resolution of the Governing Board 



ELI WHITNEY COUNTRY CLUB. 
^ CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLK I. 

Sec. 1. This Association shall be known as Ew 
Whitney Country Ci.ub. 

Sec 2, The objects of this Association are to ac- 
quire the title to the land where the cotton gin was 
first operated, which is near Augusta, Georgia, and to 
beautify the spot and appropriately preserve it as a 
memorial to Bli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton 
gin; to enforce the game and fish laws; to propagate 
game and fish; to own, lease, rent and hire lands and 
waters for shooting, fishing, hunting and other pur- 
poses, and for the other objects set forth in its char- 
ter. 

ARTlClvB II. 

Sec. 1. The membership of this organization is 
fixed at one hundred and fifty members, but the Gov- 
erning Board or the Club, may, from time to time, in- 
crease or diminish the numbers. Applications for 
membership shall be made to the Governing Board, 
who are authorized to prescribe all regulations as to 
applicants, to fix the time and place and manner of 
holding meetings to consider applicants, and to elect 
members. 

ARTICIyB III. 

Sec. 1. The officers of the Club shall consist of a 
President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, 

32 



and Tsvelve Directors, all of whom shall be members 
of the Club, and these officers and directors shall con- 
stitute the Board of Directors, 

Sec. 2. The Board of Directors shall select from 
their number five members who shall constitute a 
Governing Board, which shall have the control and 
management of the general welfare of said Association 
and of its property, affairs and funds, and shall have 
authority to make, levy and collect assessments upon 
members; to fix annual dues and to enforce the col- 
lection of the same; to purchase, rent, lease and cul- 
tivate lands; to elect, drop, suspend or expel mem- 
bers; to restrict the rights of the members and stock- 
holders, and also to fix and from time to time change 
the rights and privileges of members; to provide suita- 
ble regulations to govern the use of the Club house, 
and to make and alter by-laws to govern the Associa- 
tion. 

Sec. 3. Five of the Board of Directors, and three of 
the Governing Board, and ten members of the Club, 
shall constitute a quorum to transact any business by 
the Board of Directors, by the Governing Board or b)^ 
the Club. 

Sec. 4, The ofiicers and directors shall be elected 
by the IE embers of the Club and shall hold their of- 
fices for one year from the date of their election, and 
until iheir successors are elected and qualified. But 
the Board of Directors shall have authority to fill all 
vacancies in their body for the unexpired term. 
ARTICIvB IV. 

Sec. 1. The annual meetings of the Club shall be 
held on the second Tuesday in December of each 
3-ear, when the ofiicers and directors shall be elected; 

33 



but if for acy cause said meeting should not be held, 
the officers and directors for the ensuing year may be 
elected at the next or any regular or special meeting 
thereafter. The election shall be by ballot, but upon 
motion, when there is no opposing candidates for the 
respective offices, such election may be by acclama- 
tion. 

ARTICLE V. 

Sec. 1." The stockholders shall not be entitled as a 
matter of right to any of the privileges of the club- 
house, or to the use of the lands and property owned 
by the Club, or to shoot, hunt or fish upon the lands 
or waters owned or controlled by the Club, or to 
hunt any dogs owned or controlled by the Club. 
The Governing Board shall have full power and au- 
thority to control any and all of the privileges of the 
Club, and may exclude any stockholder from any or 
all of these privileges, with or without cause, and no 
member excluded by the Governing Board from any 
or all of these privileges shall exercise any of them 
from which he has been excluded until reinstated by 
the action of the Club or Governing Board. 



31 



ELI WHITNEY COUNTRY CLUB, 
BY = LAWS. 



ARTlCIvE I. 



Sec. 1. The President may call special meetings 
of the Board of Directors whenever he may deem it 
necessary. He shall call a special meeting whenever 
three members shall in writing request him to do so, 
but the written request must plainly specify the ob- 
ject of the meeting. 

Sec. 2. Special meetings of the Club may be called 
by the President or by the Board of Directors whenev- 
er deemed necessary, and shall be called bj^ the Presi- 
dent whenever seven members shall in a written re- 
quest specify the object of the meeting. 

Sec. 3. All notices of special meetings of the 
Board of Directors or of the Club shall specify the ob- 
ject of such meetings, and no other business than that 
specified shall be transacted without the unanimous 
consent of those present. 

Sec. 4. At all meetings of the Club, or of the 
Board of Directors, the roll shall be called and the 
secretary of the meeting shall keep a minute of those 
present and absent. After the roll call any comnm- 
nication which the President ma}^ desire to make 
shall be read. Thereafter the reports of Committees 
shall be heard, and then the special business of the 
meeting shall be considered and thereafter any other 

35 



business which may be considered; and at annual 
meetings of the Club the election of officers and di- 
rectors shall take place. 

ARTICLE II. 

Oli'FlCERS. 

Sec. 1. The President shall perform the usual du- 
ties of the office; preside at all meetings of the Club 
and of the Board of Directors; and appoint such com- 
mittees as he may deem necessary, and perform such 
other duties as may be required of him by the Club. 

Sec. 2. In the absence of the President, or when- 
ever he is unable to act, The Vice-President shall 
discharge the duties of the President. And if both 
should be absent or unable to act, the Board of Direc- 
tors shall choose a member of the Club to discharge 
the duties of President during the absence or disabili- 
ty of the President or Vice-president. 

Sec 3. The Secretary shall attend the meetings 
of the Club and of the Board of Directors and shall 
keep the minutes of the proceedings and record the 
ayes and nays upon all questions when such a vote is 
demanded. He shall conduct and preserve all corres- 
pondence, make and serve all notices required under 
the laws of the Club by the President or Board of Di- 
rectors, and perform such other duties as shall be re- 
quired of him by the Club or the Board of Directors. 
He shall promptly deliver to the Treasurer a copy of 
all resolutions affecting dues, assessments, or other 
matters which affect the financial affairs of the Club. 
He shall also keep a tabulated record of all deeds, 
leases, contracts and other records affecting the Club 
or its property, and of such insurance policies as may 
be taken out for the Club, and shall be the custodian 

36 



of all deeds, leases, contracts, policies of insuraiice 
and similar papers of the club. He shall report to 
the President and also to the Board of Directors, a 
reasonable time before action is necessary, whenever 
it is necessary to take any action with reference to 
any contract, written obligation, or any other record 
in his possession, to renew the same or for any other 
purpose which may effect the Club. 

Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all 
the money and securities of the Chib and of every- 
thing of a similar character owned by the Club. He 
shall receive and disburse all the monies of the Club, 
under the orders of the Governing Board, and all 
claims shall be approved by the President or Vice- 
President before paid. He shall keep books of ac- 
count and a schedule of the property owned by the 
Club, and shall make to the Board of Directors such 
statements as to the affairs of the Club as may be re- 
quested of him; and at every annual meeting of the 
stockholders he shall submit a full report of the af- 
fairs of the Club. He shall deposit all monies belong- 
ing to the Club to its credit, in an account in the 
name of the Club, in some bank in the City of Augus- 
ta, Georgia, which bank shall be designated by the 
Board of Directors. All payments shall be made by 
the check of the Treasurer countersigned by the 
President or Vice-President. 

Sec. 5. No officer of the Club shall have the power 
to incur any liability for the Club unless authorized so 
to do by the Board of Directors. 

ARTICIvE III. 
Membership. 
Sec. 1. Membership must be accepted and all pay- 
ments required must be made within thirty days after 

37 



the notification of election is mailed to the applicant, 
or the Board of Directors may declare it forfeited , No 
person shall become a member who does not own at 
least one share of the capital stock of the Club before 
exercising any of the privileges of the Club. 

Sec. 2. Membership confers no ownership on a 
member of any of the property of the Club, and does 
not confer any right to enjoy the privilege of u^ing 
any of the property or privileges of the Club except 
only so far as such right may be confessed by the By- 
L-aws and rules from time to time existing. 

Sec. 3. Bach member in good standing shall be 
entitled to receive a certificate of membership bearing 
the corpDrate seal of the Club and signed by the Pres- 
ident and Secretary. 

Skc. 4. Any member may transfer his privileges of 
membership to any person not a member on the terms 
and conditions specified in this Article: 

He shall first state his proposal in writing to the 
Secretary, stating his desire to make such transfer, 
naming the proposed transferee, which proposal shall 
be accompanied by his certificate of membership, 
and shall be regarded as the conditional resignation 
of such member and as the application of the propos- 
ed transferee for his place. Such proposal shall have 
endorsed thereon or attached thereto a written ac- 
ceptance by such proposed transferee and also his re- 
quest for election. The proposed transferee must 
then be endorsed and elected in all respects the same 
as if proposed as an ordinary applicant for member- 
ship. If such proposed transferee is elected and shall 
pay the initiation fee which may be required by the 
By-Ivaws, and the dues and other indebtedness of the 
out-going member of the Club, the conditional resig- 

38 



nation of the outgoing member shall become absolute 
and the transferee thus elected and qualified shall take 
the place or the member who has thus resigned and 
shall assume all of his obligations to the Club, The 
provisions of this section shall apply to a pers ^n who 
may have been dropped or expelled. 

Ssc. 5. The heirs at law and next of kin of a de- 
ceased member shall not succeed to membership or 
anv rights or privileges respectiag the Club property; 
but they nevertheless shall have the exclusive right 
for twelve mouths after the death of the member to 
arrange with any person who is not a member for the 
privilege of taking the place of the deceased on such 
terms as they may fix by agreement; subject, how- 
ever, to the requirement that such persou s:> agreed 
upon to take the place of the deceased must be elected 
io membership as herein provided. The proceedings 
upon such transfer shall be the same as prescribed in 
the preceding section. 

Sec. 6. The membership of a member of the Club 
who may be dropped, resign or be expelled, or who 
may die and whose legal representatives shall fail to 
effect a transfer of his membership within twelve 
months after his death, may be sold by the Treasurer 
of the Club, pursuant to the directions of the Govern- 
ing Board; but the purchaser of such sale shall not 
acquire the right to any of the rights and privileges of 
the Club- House and grounds, or to any of the privi- 
leges of the Club, until duly elected to membership 
in the manner provided for applicants. The proceeds 
of such sale, after deducting therefrom all dues, as- 
sessments and other indebtedness to the Club under 
such membership and all expenses of the sale, shall, 
on surrender of the certificate of membership to the 



Treasurer, be paid to such member or his legal repre- 
sentatives. And it is distinctly provided that at such 
sale the Club may bid and become the purchaser of 
such share, and may cancel or retire the same when 
purchased by the Club. 

Sec. 7. All dues, assessments and other indebted- 
ness of a member of the Club are his personal obliga- 
tions and constitute a lien upon his certificate of mem- 
bership. 

Sec. 8. Members are liable for all dues, assess- 
ments and other indebtedness as a member of the 
Club until his certificate of membership is transferred 
to a new member, as hereinabove provided; and the 
resignation or other act of any member shall not be 
sufiicient to relieve the member until all of the dues, 
assessments or other indebtedness standing in his 
name are paid. 

Sec. 9. The sales of memberships of those mem- 
bers who may be dropped, who resign, are expelled 
or who may die, as herein provided, shall be made at 
a public session of the Governing Board, or under 
their direction at a place by the said Board designat- 
ed, either at the Club-House or at some place in the 
city of Augusta, Georgia, after five days' notice of the 
time and place, which notice shall be published daily 
in one or more newspapers published in the said city 
of Augusta, and any person shall have the privilege 
of attending such sale. 

Sec. 10. Assessments for each year may be made 
at any regular or special meeting of the Club, provid- 
ed five days' notice of the purpose to consider that 
question shall have been mailed to each member of 
the Club before the meeting. 

40 



Sec. 11. Any member of the Club who is guilty of 
ungentlemanly conduct; or of intentional violation or 
habitual neglect of any by-law, rule or regulation of 
the Club, or of conduct prejudiced to the interests of 
the Club, may be fined, suspended, dropped or expell- 
ed by a two-thirds vote of the Governing Board. But 
no such action shall be taken against a member for 
any of these causes until the charges and specifications- 
made against him shall have been reduced to writing, 
filed with the Secretary and a copy thereof mailed to 
the accused or served upon him, and after a reason- 
able opportunity has been given him by the Govern- 
ing Board to be heard before it. The accused shall 
have at least four days' notice by mail or by personal 
service of the time and place of the hearing. 

Sec. 12. Members shall be persoj^ally liable for 
any injuries to the property of the Club resulting from, 
their acts or neglect, the cause and amount thereof to 
be determined by the Board of Directors; and shall al- 
so be liable to the Club for the use of the Club prop- 
erty by their guests respectively and for all supplies, 
service, injuries to property and penalties for the vio- 
lations of the by-laws, rules and regulations at the 
same rates as for members, and the Board of Direc- 
tors shall determine the respective amounts for which 
the members respectively are liable. 

Sec. 13. Each member shall cause the name of 
each guest introduced by him to be entered on the 
Club Register promptly upon arrival at the club- 
house, with the name of the member opposite each 
guest so introduced, and any guest so introduced may 
make use of the property of the Club upon lil.e terms. 
as a member and in the name of the member whose 
guest the visitor may be. 

41 



ARTICIvE IV. 
Vacancies in Office. 
Skc. 1. The Board of Directors may fill vacancies 
occurring either by death, resignation or otherwise in 
any office and amongst its own members, and may 
change any committee and at any time remove any 
officer for cause after due notice and opportunity to 
be heard in his own defense. 



42 



THE CLUB-HOUSE AND GROUNDS. 

The Club-House will consist of two stories and an 
attic, surmounted by two towers commanding a mag- 
nificent view of the surrounding country, and encir- 
cled by a broad sweep of verandas on three sides, where 
the members and their friends can enjoy the delightful 
breezes of the summer. And ove of the inspiring 
thoughts that will come to them as they sit there will 
be, not only that they have tendered honor to whom 
honor was pre-eminently due, but that a hundred 
thousand acres of the woods and fields and streams 
which surround them are protected by the laws of the 
land from the depredations of the pot-hunters who de- 
stroy with unsportsmanlike recklessness the fish and 
game which are preserved for those who have become 
members of the Club. 

* * * * ^5- * 

The entrance to the building is covered by a porte- 
cochere for vehicles, with a flight of steps on either side 
leading up to the veranda This veranda is eighty- 
three feet long on the front and extends back sixty- 
four feet on each side. On the first floor are four 
spacious rooms which, by means of folding doors, can 
easily be converted into one, on the occasion of a re- 
ception or other function of general character. The 
reception or lounging room is twenty-four by twenty- 
four feet, while on either side is a parlor, one of which 
is sixteen by sixteen and the other sixteen by twenty 
feet. Immediately behind the reception room is the 

43 



dining room, which is twenty by thirty-five, commu- 
nicating on the right with a pantry, kitchen, etc. On 
the second floor are five rooms that may be used for 
bed rooms. The largest of these opens directly on 
the balcony which surmounts the porte-cochere and 
veranda below. On this floor are also located the la- 
dies' toilet room and a store room for the guns, fish- 
ing tackle, etch., of the sportsmen, The third floor 
is an attic, and may be adapted to any purpose which 
the members may see fit to make of it. 
a -jfr a i'c it a 

The grounds in the immediate vicinity of the Club- 
House will, of couse, be beautified. In doing this the 
highest sli ill of the landscape gardener will be brought 
into requisition. One of the most striking features of 
the ornamentation of the grounds will be the memo- 
rial arch which is to be erected to the honor of the 
great inventor. Just what plan will be adopted has 
not yet been definitely settled upon, but it is certain 
to be something which is in every way worthy of the 
man whose name the Club is to bear. This arch is to 
span the entrance to the grounds — those grounds 
where according to incontrovertible evidence the first 
cotton gin in the world was operated. 

The furnishing of the Club-House will be with an 
eye to the comfort and convenience of the members, but 
artistic effect will not be overlooked. Already offers 
have come from different parts of the country from 
wealthy men who wish to fill niches with busts and 
statues commemorating the men who have been fore- 
most in bringing the cotton industry to its present 
state of development. 

vfr * * * * * 

since the first inception of the enterprise a most im- 
44 



portant feature has been added tbat will command the 
ready sympathy and co-operation of all true sportmen. 
The members of the Eli Whitney Country Club have 
been requested to associate themselves with the well 
known I^eague of American Sportsmen, which is com- 
posed of some of the most influential men in the 
country. Among other familiar names is found that 
of the celebrated artist and naturalist, Krnest-Seton 
Thompson, the author of * 'The Biography of a Grizzly, * ' 
and many similar works. He is vice-president of the 
Society, while the executive council is composed for 
the most part of the governors of the respective states 
which belong to the I^eague. President Roosevelt 
and President Gillman, of Johns Hopkins University, 
are also on the board. 

The league ' 'was organized for the purpose of pro- 
tecting the game and game fish; the song, insectivor- 
ous and other innocent birds. Its prime object is to 
enforce game laws where such exist, and to secure 
nd enforce such laws where not now in existence. ' ' 



The present indications are that some one hundred 
thousand acres contiguous to the club-house will be 
brought under control of the Club, for the original 
plan has broadened and deepened until the memorial 
will become one of the great institutions of the South. 
The strip of territory about twelve miles wide and 
thirty miles long, lying along the Savannah river, is 
the most prolific in fish and game of any section in 
the state. The owners of these magnificent preserves 
find the greatest difficulty, however in preventing 
poachers and tresspassers from committing the whole- 
sale slaughter that is so repugnant to the true sports- 



45 



man. Recognizing this fact, they have signified their 
■willingness to turn over their fish and game privileges 
to the Bli Whitney Country Club, whose power and 
prestige, composed as it is, of one hundred and fifty of 
the leading citizens of Augusta and representative 
men from abroad, would be equal to effecting what 
individuals were inadequate to perform. 

By thus maintaining a jealous care of fish and game 
an elevated sportsman-like sentiment will be engen- 
dered by the Club. There will cease to be the recur" 
ring "slaughter of the innocents," and in its place 
will be a manly sport with an eye turned toward the 
future. And so far perpetuating the name of Whit- 
ney, there will be a hundred occasions a year for a 
hundred years when his name will be brought into 
living remembrance. The very existence of such a 
Club will suggest occasions for its use. The women 
and children will find it a delightful place for a day's 
outing, and thus the growing generations will be 
taught to lisp the name of the man whose genius has 
done more for the upbuilding of the South than any 
other agency since Oglethorpe landed on our shores; 
from whose humble cabin on the banks of Rocky 
Creek grew in direct sequence the thousands of whir- 
ring factories of the present day. 



46 



THE SITE OF WHITNEY^S LABORS* 

The spot upon which the Club-house is erected was 
originally chosen as the most appropriate site for a 
memorial of this character, since it was here that Bli 
Whitney first put to a practical test those ideas which 
in their perfection were to prove a veritable Aladdin's 
lamp to the South. 

It is indisputable that the first Whitney cotton gin 
was set up and operated upon Rocky Creek, and the 
records of the county (Richmond) show that Messrs. 
Miller, Whitney & Toole bought several adjoining 
tracts of land in this locality, comprising in all some 
one hundred and sixty acres— lands that are now im- 
mediately circumadjacent to the Eli Whitney Country 
Club-house. The three tracts weie deeded respective- 
ly August 15, 1798; November 6, 1798; and February 
4, 1799. 

Mr. Eli Whitney, of New Haven, Conn., a grand 
son of the inventor, in writing to Hon. Martin V. 
Calvin, of Augusta, on the subject, says: 

"It is evident from the Miller letter book, which 
begins May 11, 1794, that James Toole was the man 
in charge, either as patron or agent, of the first cotton 
gin in Augusta, and that the first gins were operated 
at or near Augusta." 

The following extract is from the letter book re- 
ferred to under date January 11, 1796, Mr. Miller 
writing to Capt. Toole: 

"We request, on the application of Capt. Durkee 
(living at or near Washington, Ga.) that you will de- 

47 



liver to his order two of the patent gins which have 
been latelj'^ shipped to Augusta which were mentioned 
by Mr. Miller when he was with you; the other two 
may be put up at Rocky Creek. ' ' 

It is even evident that Whitney and his associates 
were in possession of this tract of land prior to the 
date of the earliest deed, probably through an option 
which was afterwards taken up, for on March 15, 
1796, Mr. Miller wrote Capt. Toole: 

"It has occurred to me to mention an impropriety, 
which I have not now time to fully explain, in taking 
the titles to the Rocky Creek place. They ought to 
be taken in the name of Eli Whitney, Phineas Miller 
and James Toole as common and not as joint ten- 
ants." 

Altogether it is incontrovertible that here Whitney 
first witnessed the earliest fruition of his ideas, and a 
more fitting spot for the Club-house could not, there- 
fore, have been chosen. 



4S 



LIST OF MEMBERS. 



1902. 



Alexander, T. W Augusta, Ga. 

Alexander, J. B " " 

Alien, R. E 



Burum, P. G. .. Augusta, Ga. 

Bligh, T. C 

Barrett, Thomas, Jr 

Barrett, H. G 

Bcthwell, J. T 

Brenner, 'W. L 

Berckmans, R. C 

Bailie, Chas. E 

Bailie, Geo. N .. 

Bcnes, Jno. P 

Bohler, Chas. S 

Burrus, L. M 

Butt, E. H New York. 

Bindewald, A Augusta, Ga. 

Barnes, W. M " " 



Carr, Chas. D Augusta, Ga. 

Cchen, C. Henry 

Chafee, Jno. W ' .. " " 



49 



Chafee, Jno. G Augusta, Ga, 

CLafee, Otis 

Crawford, C. J 

Carr, A. P 

Cook, W. H 

Cochrane, Cecil " 

Ce>:hin, H. C 

Cranston, J. M 

Campbell, J. E 

Co&tello, E. J 

Coolige, T. JefEerson Boston, Mass. 

Cai ningham, Geo. R., Jr. .. Augusta, Ga. 

Clark, J. A. A. W 

Charbonnier, L. H., Jr., .... 
Crawford, T. C 



Doughty, Joshua, J. Augusta, Ga. 

D0T-,ghty, A. S 

Doughty, L. G 

Doughty, E. W, ........ .. 

Do'Ughty, J. P 

Davison, J. H 

Dyer, D. B 

Degen, C. F 

Dickey, Jno. W 

Davis, Chas. W 

Dantorth, T. S 

D'Antignac, H. H, 

D'Antignac, 'W. M 

Dawson, James D " 

Daly, James 

Dison, Geo. W 

Draper, Eben Hopedale, Mass. 



50 



Eve, W. P Augusta, Ga. 

Eve, F. E 

Evans, Judge N. G Edgefield, S. C. 



Fleming, E. C Augusta, Ga. 

Fleming, L. L New York. 

Fleming, T. P Augusta, Ga. 

Fargo, Geo. J 

Fargo, Chas. T 

Fogarty, D. G 

Fernie, A. K New York. 

I<'olllin, U. P Augusta, Ga, 



Gccdrich, Chas. G. 
Gardelle, L. A. .. . 
Gardner, B. J. .. . 
Gairdner, Gordon .. 
Gairdner, Edwin . . 
Garrett, ^W. A. .. 
Gary, Wm. T. .. . 



Augusta, Ga. 



Hopkins, Samuel New York. 

Hentz, Henry " 

Hanson, J. F Macon, Ga, 

Kayne, L. C Augusta, Ga- 

Hickman, T. I " " 



61 



Hall, J. S Augusta, Ga. 

Hammond, H. C 

Heard, Chas. C. .. .. 

Heard, J. T 

Kook, E. B 

Hill, Audley 



Jackson, James U Augusta, Ga. 

Jackson, W. M " 

Johnson, E. S 

Joi'es, W. C 

Jones, Wm. E Waynesboro, Ga. 



Lesser^ S Augusta, Ga. 

Landrum, H. W 

Lawrence, E. L 

Latimer, W. A " 

Latimer, W. E 

L.-i-wrence, Bryan 

Le\y, J. Willie 

Lyon, E. J 

Langley, W. H New York. 

luivering, Chas. L Boston, Mass. 



52 



:Mundy, W. R. .. 

M>ers, S. H 

Murphey, Dr. E. E. 
Morgan, Dr. J. B. 
Mcore, St. John .. ., 
Mnnig-ault, S. H. .. 



Charleston, S. C. 



Nixon, J. S Augusta, Ga. 

Nixon, G. H 

Nixon, W. M 

Neely, R. C Waynesboro, Ga, 



O'Dcwd, W. H Augusta, Ga. 



Pedigo, J. H Augusta, Ga. 

Perkins, H. C 

Perkins, Dr. C. D 

Phinizy^ Leonard 

Phinizy, Stewart 

Phinizy, Jacob 

Phinizy, Bowdre 

Phinizy, Ferdinand 

Filcher, E. B 

Piatt, W. Ed 

Pope, F. B 



53 



Raworth, T. S Augusta, Ga. 

Held, Ferg-us Norfolk, Va. 

Remsen, Rem .. Augusta, Ga. 

Rice, P. H 



Schaefer, h New York. 

Schnakenburg, D " 

Scott, Thos. K Augusta, Ga. 

Sberon, T.. J 

Sherman, Thos. H 

Smith, H. C. 

Srr;ythe, Frank 

Speights, C. H 

Spear, Frank 

Stulb, A. W 

Stulb, C. C 

Sullivan, P. J 

Sylvester, C. S 



Tarver, R. G Augusta, Ga. 

Thcmas, Landon 

Thomas, A. A " 

TC'hin, James " " 

Tvviggs, A. J .. " " 



54 



Verdery, Eugene Augusta, Ga. 

Verdery, Jas. P 



Walker, J. B Augusta, Ga. 

Walker, Jno. W " 

Walker. W. F 



Young, W. B Augusta, Ga. 



LofC. 55 



t ^ 

f MEMBERS DECE,ASED. f 

1 Hull, Asbury Augusta, Ga. 1 

A Hurtz, Henry, .... Augusta, Ga. a 

9 9 

9 (? 



MAY 3 1905 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 893 076 8 




